Monthly Archives: March 2011

NRDC OnEarth

PODCAST What Can We Do With All That CO2? | OnEarth

You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but there’s carbon dioxide in the air all around us. And each day, we’re producing more of it.

For the past 60 years, scientists have been measuring the increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels (along with rapid deforestation around the planet) sends billions of tons of CO2 into the air each year, and the extra greenhouse gas is causing average global temperatures to climb. To slow down rising temperatures, or stabilize them, scientists say carbon emissions need to be dramatically reduced and eventually brought to zero.

Of course, using carbon-free sources of energy, such as wind and solar, is an obvious way to cut emissions. But the world’s growing energy demands can’t yet be met with renewables and other carbon-free energy, and it will probably be decades before that technology is affordable and widespread. In the meantime, what can we do with all that extra CO2?

In this episode of the Climopedia podcast, Climate Central and OnEarth look at ideas for reducing CO2 concentrations. Columbia University’s Klaus Lackner shares his thoughts on why carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is needed. OnEarth contributor Adam Aston describes new technology that can help scoop CO2 right out of the air (see his story on carbon trees). Finally, Princeton University’s Andrew Bocarsly explains how we might put some of that captured CO2 to good use.

via onearth.org

Check out my mellifluous stylings in the middle third of this short podcast: http://www.onearth.org/media/listen-what-to-do-with-co2

Global CCS Institute

Greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants surged by 5.6% in 2010, largest-ever increase in a single year | Global CCS Institute

Amidst increasingly acrimonious political fighting in Washington over the fate of U.S. environmental programs in general, and about climate policy in particular, carbon dioxide emissions from power plants have resumed their upward climb after a recession-related retreat. News of rising emissions is likely to intensify the tug-of-war over federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

While official data for overall US emissions has not yet been released for 2010* by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), data from power plant emissions—which account for about 40% of total U.S. emissions—point to a return to upward growth in overall emissions as the economy heats up. With demand for electricity falling, overall emissions contracted by 6% during the recession of 2008 and 2009, bucking a trend of steady 0.4% annual growth since 1990. The retreat temporarily deflated the national debate on climate policy.

Now it looks like emissions are climbing again, in sync with the economic recovery. U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from power plants surged by 5.6%, after declining sharply in 2009. The rise last year is largest in a single year since the EPA began tracking the data 15 years ago, according to a study by the Environmental Integrity Project, a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in March 2002 by former EPA enforcement attorneys to advocate for more effective enforcement of environmental laws.

Reflecting the recovery the economy, growth in emissions mirrors increased demand for power. “Last year’s rise was driven in part by a 3.0% net increase in overall generation for the 12 months ending in November of 2010,” the report noted.

In 2010 carbon dioxide emissions from power plants grew to 2.42 billion metric tons, or gigatonnes, up from 2.30 gigatonnes in 2009, based on data from the EPA’s Clean Air Markets website. Total carbon emissions from power plants were still below the record of 2.57 gigatonnes set in 2007.

Across the U.S., 50 coal-fired power plants accounted for 750 million tons, or megatonnes, of carbon dioxide releases in 2010, nearly one-third of the nation’s total. Four power plants emitted over 20 megatonnes apiece in 2010, two in Georgia, one in Alabama, and one in Texas.

The heaviest emitting states were Texas with 257 million tons, nearly twice the volume of the number two state, Florida, where power plants released 130 million tons of carbon emissions. Rounding out the top-10 states were: Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, and Missouri.

The resurgence in emissions come amidst sustained opposition to new coal burning facilities, and a shift by utilities to replace older coal plants with natural gas.

Nearly 4.5 gigawatts of new coal-fired electric generation came on line in 2010, the study notes, about half of that in Texas.

But power companies have also announced plans to retire almost 12 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity in coming years, including the January announcement last month that Xcel would close nearly 900 megawatts of coal-fired capacity at four different power stations in Colorado.

* U.S. greenhouse gas data for 2009 was released in draft form on Feb. 15, 2011. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads11/US-GHG-Inventory-2011-Complete_Report.pdf

via globalccsinstitute.com

The Fiscal Times

Charge! Electric Cars Fueled by Higher Gas Prices | The Fiscal Times

Turmoil in the Middle East, uncertainty about oil prices, and gasoline still flirting with the nerve-rattling level of $4 per gallon in some parts of the country are making consumers nervous. Even after prices slipped in response to concerns about reduced demand from the crisis in Japan, oil is now trading at about $100 a barrel. Prices are likely to stay high in the near term, or even rise further, given recovering economies in much of the world,  unrest in the Arab world, and the coming summer travel season.

We’ve been there before, only worse. In 2008, when oil peaked near $150 a barrel, car buyers stampeded away from big, gas-guzzling vehicles and overall auto sales collapsed. Just as Hummers were practically being given away, automakers responded with fleets of smaller hybrid vehicles, and the path to sustainable energy consumption was set.

The good news today is that the U.S. is better prepared to cope with an oil crisis with the advent of the electric car. All but written off in the 1990s, following GM’s decision to junk its EV1, dozens of highly efficient electric vehicles (EVs) are headed for U.S. roads this year and next.

“It’s not just improved car technology,” says Jack Hidary, Global EV Leader at Hertz, which is rolling out electric vehicles at rental sites in the U.S. and overseas. Beyond carmakers, other big players “see a roadmap of business models to make EVs a commercial success,” says Hidary, a technology entrepreneur who was a co-architect of the federal Cash for Clunkers program…

More here: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/03/17/Electric-Cars-Gas-Prices.aspx

 

Global CCS Institute

Will nuclear fears shift development to renewables and CCS? | Global CCS Institute

A week into Japan’s triple tragedy—earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident—the implications are still unfolding. Analysts are beginning to map out how the nuclear accident could affect global energy trends for nuclear, conventional energy, and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).  Continue reading Will nuclear fears shift development to renewables and CCS? | Global CCS Institute →

GreenBiz

With its First-Ever CSO, UPS Kicks Sustainability Up to the C-Suite | GreenBiz

With its First-Ever CSO, UPS Kicks Sustainability Up to the C-Suite
Scott Wicker started at United Parcel Service, Inc. on his first day of college in 1977. The job was part of a deal with his dad: If Wicker could help support his own expenses, his dad would cover housing costs and tuition at Wayne State. Responding to a flyer posted in a school administration building, Wicker applied to UPS and was unloading big rigs in no time.

Thirty-four years and a couple of engineering degrees later, Wicker’s still at UPS. In that time, he’s gone from the loading dock to supervising the $50-billion company’s sustainability strategy and practices.

Scott WickerOn Wednesday, Wicker got kicked upstairs, becoming the shipping giant’s first chief sustainability officer. Wicker was promoted from his former role as vice president of sustainability and plant engineering.

The new title culminates a decades-long process at UPS to elevate sustainability to the company’s highest levels of management. “It was strategic decision, made between our CEO and COO,” says Wicker. “[Sustainability] is high on their list of priorities, so things get done. ”

As CSO, Wicker serves on a steering committee that routinely gathers the company’s top brass — its CFO, CIO, COO, plus heads of marketing and communications, human resources, and communications, among others — to oversee green strategy and help coordinate efforts of midlevel sustainability working groups across the enterprise.

The approach is part of an effort over the past few years “to really put teeth into our sustainability programs,” Wicker said in telephone interview earlier this week. “As sustainability has moved along and we wanted to accelerate that, we needed more structure, and the organization has recognized that fact.”

Top priorities for Wicker include devolving sustainability practices more deeply throughout UPS’ sprawling global operations. To spread the word, UPS will continue to rely on internal training and communications.

Wicker also sees the profit potential in green service offerings as a way to recruit serious commitment from UPS’ sales teams. “We’ve learned we have a competitive advantage in this area, and staff are always interested in ways to sell our business better from a sustainability perspective,” says Wicker. “One of the first places we went was to the sales and marketing team to see the benefits of these programs.”

One example of a green feature that is winning over customers, says Wicker, is UPS’ push to develop detailed carbon footprint reporting for practically any shipment a UPS customer makes. “Every year, the requirement from our customers gets tougher, so our data has to get better and better,” says Wicker.

For instance, the General Services Administration, the federal government’s buying arm, is requiring carbon information for its suppliers. For companies working to meet that requirement by measuring and improving their supply chain, “They discover UPS is big piece of their business model.” …  Continue reading here greenbiz.com

Global CCS Institute

US clean energy stimulus spending starts slow: CCS funding last out of the gate | Global CCS Institute

In 2009, when newly elected President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, nearly $65 billion was allotted to fund green programs.

For the U.S.’s nascent clean energy industry, the funds were like finding fresh water on a long, parched journey.  The funds promised to rejuvenate American cleantech industries, and help them catch-up with European players who had benefitted from more public funding, over a longer period. Continue reading US clean energy stimulus spending starts slow: CCS funding last out of the gate | Global CCS Institute →